GMC Football White Division overview

With the graduation of 2013 Home News Tribune Offensive Player of the Year Matt Olivo, who rushed behind a skilled and sizable offensive line that simply wore opponents down as the game progressed, the St. Joseph High School football team may have some difficulty defending its White Division crown.

The Falcons, who finished with an incredible 9-1 record under rookie head coach Casey Ransone as a first-year member of the Greater Middlesex Conference, can expect the strongest challenge to their title defense to come from Colonia, which appears to be the favorite to dethrone the champions.

With at least three scholarship players in its lineup, including quarterback Tenni Adewusi, a dual threat who rolled up 1,871 yards from scrimmage a year ago, and running back Sam Pero, who rushed for 1,412 yards, Colonia is primed to avenge division losses to St. Joseph and Carteret.

The Ramblers, led by Sean Hailey and Sam Kamara, have the talent on defense to battle St. Joseph and South Plainfield for second-place in the division. The Tigers are led by Kyle Dickerson, the league's third-leading receiver (457 yards), who has made the move to quarterback, competing for time behind center with converted tight end Jason Lee.

J.F. Kennedy, which won its first playoff game in 20 years last season, is athletic at the skill positions and deep in the trenches. Bishop Ahr, which lost three games by a total of eight points, has installed a spread offense to utilize the talents of vastly improved quarterback David Holder.

Woodbridge, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy finished a combined 4-26 a year ago.

Bishop Ahr (3-7)

Joe Vigilante, a longtime Bishop Ahr assistant who also played at the high school in the late 1990s, succeeds Don Sofilkanich. Vigilante has installed a spread offense to best utilize his skill position players, including David Holder, a big-bodied (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), strong-armed quarterback who is a dual threat. Holder has worked on his three-step drop and intermediate passing game, improving tremendously since last season. He will be featured prominently as a stack linebacker in the 3-5 defense. For that reason, expect Vigilante to spell Holder some on offense, especially with promising sophomore quarterback Tommy Galante at his disposal. Galante would likely start for some other teams in the league, and the much-needed game experience bodes well for him when Holder graduates. Promising running back Tim Howard and linebacker Alex Dawes, who missed most of last season with an injury, will be counted on to provide leadership. Running backs Andrew Brazicki and Dane Lupton have impressed in camp, picking up the offense quickly and exceling with pass protection. They will compensate for the transfer of Nelson Thomas to a prep school out of state. Justin Abd and Marcus Trotman have filled voids at receiver. Ricky Peguero and Chris Garr will anchor the offensive line, while linebacker Rob Gee is a player to watch on defense. Bishop Ahr returns 13 starters. A deceptive 3-7 record last fall has fueled Bishop Ahr. All of its losses were to NJSIAA playoff qualifiers. Three of those defeats were by a total of eight points including a 20-14 overtime setback to J.F. Kennedy and a pair of one-point losses to Carteret and South Plainfield. Three weeks into last season, Bishop Ahr scrapped its Wing-T formation in favor of the option. Bishop Ahr was the only conference member to outgain reigning White Division champion St. Joseph in yards from scrimmage, doing so during the first contest in which it unveiled its new-look offense. Bishop Ahr, which has made 21 NJSIAA playoff appearances, has dropped its last seven playoff games by a combined 337-62 score, or by a 39-point average margin of defeat.

Carteret (8-3)

After using a vaunted running game and stellar defense to claim a sectional championship in 2012, the Ramblers struggled to move the ball on the ground and got off to a slow start, dropping two of their first three contests last season. The move of offensive lineman Cory Baccarella (479 yards rushing) to fullback, coupled with the steady improvement of rookie quarterback Nelson Baez (852 yards passing) enabled Carteret to reel off six consecutive wins before enduring a 40-0 playoff defeat to Lawrence. Rahkeem Bennett and D'Avion Ellington are the heir apparent to graduated tailback Terrell Merricks, who overcame nagging injuries to finish with 1,078 rushing yards. Newcomers Paris Wilson (G), Justin Taylor (TE) and Jaziel Saavedra (C) will be counted on up front. Carteret's best player remains wideout/defensive back Brandon Gilder. He caught 24 passes for 455 yards, made 47 tackles, registered four interceptions and also played some quarterback. Hassan Williams will complement Gilder in the secondary and at receiver. The Ramblers will be hard-pressed to replace first-team All-Area linebacker Charles Faulkner, who led the team with 112 tackles. Mario Roman now finds himself in the heart of the defense. Look for Sam Kamara to have a significant impact at defensive end or linebacker. Bennett led the team with four sacks from his linebacker spot a year ago. The return of Sean Hailey from a knee injury will provide a huge boost to the defensive line.

Colonia (6-4)

The Patriots are simply loaded. Quarterback Tenni Adewusi, who has scholarship offers from Delaware and Fordham, passed for 1,163 yards and rushed for 708 more last season. Also returning is running back Sam Pero, who rushed for 1,412 yards. The duo combined for 3,482 yards from scrimmage. The receiving corps is equally impressive featuring Pharoah Napolean (410 yards) and Bryce Barneys. Raul Cardona, an incumbent first-team All-Area selection at tight end, where he had 338 receiving yards, is even more impressive at linebacker, where he registered an eye-popping 121 tackles. Bryant has offered Cardona a scholarship. Two-way lineman Jim Becker (6-foot-5, 280) is a force in the trenches. Anthony Nystrom and Mike Quinn anchor a stellar linebacker corps. Barneys and Adewusi, who is being recruited as a defensive back, start at safety and corner. Linebacker Soloman Manning (57 tackles), who has generated interest from Boston College, appears to be one of the league's most improved players. Interestingly, four of the Colonia basketball team's starters will see time on defense. They include Brandon Haynes (DE), Jordell Thompson (LB), James Corbett and Chase Barneys (DB). With the offensive line improved, expect Colonia to exceed the 2,433 yards for which it rushed a year ago.

J.F. Kennedy (5-6)

The Mustangs hope to build upon the success of a year ago when they won the school's first playoff game in 20 years and fell one win short of finishing over .500 for the first time since 2004. J.F. Kennedy began last season as a one-dimensional team, relying heavily on the legs of recently graduated running back Anthony Roberts, the league's fourth-leading rusher with 1,512 yards and 20 TDs. As the year progressed, however, J.F. Kennedy became more adept at throwing, utilizing the developing arm of Andrew Roberts (695 yards, 5 TDs passing) while taking advantage of gifted wideouts Terrence Young (344 receiving yards) and Stepp Oziegbe (231 receiving yards). Andrew Roberts has grown physically (three inches and 15 pounds) and intellectually. Tailback Ari King, who broke his hand in the third game of the season a year ago, is Anthony Roberts' successor and will also play safety. A senior dominated offensive line, which features just one undersclassman, has a better grasp of blocking concepts after then rookie head coach Andrew Maurizio switched the Mustangs last year from a triple-option to a pro-style offense with a zone scheme. Mike Hogan, one of the league's top defensive players, anchors the linebacker corps, while Young and Andrew Roberts will shine at the corners. Maurizio will utilize an eight-player rotation on the defensive front.

New Brunswick (1-9)

Don Sofilkanich is New Brunswick's fourth head coach in the past six years. He inherits a struggling program that has combined for a 2-36-1 record over the last five seasons including a 26-game losing streak. He previously served as the head coach at Bishop Ahr, Asbury Park, Neptune and Holmdel. Renowned for building strong defenses, Sofilkanich was an assistant at New Brunswick under John Quinn from 2002-06. The Zebras appeared in the playoffs during each of Sofilkanich's years with the program, finishing undefeated in 2003 for the second time in school history and the first time since 1926. During a team meeting after being named New Brunswick's coach, he told the Zebras their goals are to win the season opener, win the division championship and win a sectional title. Sofilkanich had a similar message for the players at Asbury Park when he took over that program in 2007. He inherited a 1-9 team that went on to post a 33-3 record and claim three consecutive Central Group I championships. New Brunswick will scarp the hurry-up spread offense it ran last season in favor of the wing-T, which should benefit star running back Maurice Ffrench. Keep an eye on Samad Davilla.He epitomizes the New Brunswick athletes Sofilkanich wants to be able to operate in open space. Quarterback Trevon Blakey has a firm grasp of the new system. Wideout Osei Emmanuel has emerged as a favorite target. C.J. Hernandezand Savier Rosarioprovide depth at running back. Samuel Pierce and MikeNazario are the team's top offensive and defensive linemen, respectively. JosimarConterres anchors the linebacker corps, while Ffrench is the key to the secondary.

Perth Amboy (1-9)

After posting consecutive winning seasons in 2010 and 2011 for the first time since the 1970s, injury and attrition has contributed to a rough stretch at Perth Amboy, where the Panthers have lost 18 of their last 19 games. Rookie head coach Brad Bishop was an assistant for the past 13 years. He starred at the high school, setting a Middlesex County single-season record with 2,474 passing yards as a senior in 1997. Bishop succeeds Mike Giordano. In an attempt to keep all players academically eligible, Bishop has instituted a mandatory year-round study hall for his charges (most other programs merely require an in-season commitment). Quarterback Albert Thomas, sidelined last year with a broken foot, returns to run a spread offense designed to utilize Perth Amboy's athleticism. Larry Johnson, son of defensive coordinator Channon Johnson, another former Perth Amboy star, will be the feature back. Johnson, who doubles as a strong safety, may be the team's best all-around performer. Jose Casares and Cameron Crisco have emerged as the top offensive linemen. The Panthers have balance and height at receiver, where 6-foot-5 Markquan White and 6-foot-2 Shaquan Fullwood are featured. Offensively, Perth Amboy is developing an ability to read defenses on the fly, mostly in the passing game. The Panthers want to use their speed on the perimeter. Linebackers White, Crisco and Chris Marquez highlight the 4-3 defense. Bishop will employ a rotation on the defensive front. Tristan Rock returns to handle the kicking chores. Perth Amboy will miss versatile Dennis Sutton, a wideout who selflessly played multiple positions on offense the past two years.

St. Joseph (9-1)

As a first-year conference member, the Falcons ran the table last season en route to the division title. Graduated running back Matt Olivo, the Home News Tribune's 2013 Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for a league-leading 1,803 yards and 19 touchdowns behind a skilled and sizable offensive line. Junior Nick Krimin, who has already received scholarship offers from Rutgers, Syracuse and Old Dominion, anchors that unit. He will be surrounded mostly by newcomers. Offensive line coach Rich Hilliard played an integral role in the team's development. Quarterback Breein Tyree, a major Division I basketball recruit who helped the Falcons win a Tournament of Champions title on the hardwood last winter, is arguably the league's best all-around athlete. A dual threat, Tyree passed for 678 yards and rushed 552 more. Tyree complemented St. Joseph's running game as a rollout passer who often tucked away the ball and turned the corner, using his speed and athleticism to evade defenders. With workhorse back Olivo graduated, the Falcons will remain a rush-oriented team, but expect them to be more balanced. Matt Van De Sande and Javon Hicks headline a gifted receiving corps. J.T. Shorter, a talented baseball player, will play linebacker and tight end as St. Joseph continues to attract athletes from its other sports programs (recently graduated basketball star Marques Townes made an immediate impact as a first-year running back/linebacker a year ago). Luke Yakeley is among the promising running backs who hope to help fill Olivo's irreplaceable shoes. St. Joseph hopes to defend its division crown and qualify again for the Non-Public Group IV playoffs.

South Plainfield (6-4)

The graduation of first-team All-Area quarterback Kyle Moroney (1,657 yards and 16 TDs) appears to put a dent in South Plainfield's passing game, but the Tigers still return one of the best receivers in the state in Johnny Chillemi (426 yards). Kyle Dickerson, who led the team with 37 catches for 457 yards last season, is battling for the starting quarterback position with Jason Lee, a converted tight end. Whoever doesn't get the nod will likely return to their old spot, strengthening the passing attack. A phenomenal athlete, Dickerson is a threat to run, while Lee has a strong arm. The loss of Roemello Monroe, a bruising runner who provided offensive balance with 1,101 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, is of equal concern. Fortunately, South Plainfield's offensive line, which team captain Brian Schillaci anchors, is gifted. He is one of 10 key returners, many of whom play on both sides of the ball. Chillemi, who has played five different spots on defense but is primarily used as a middle linebacker, led the team with 102 tackles. Dickerson was second on the club with 91. The graduation of Jarrett Agee (team-leading five interceptions) creates a void in the secondary. South Plainfield won six of its first eight games to qualify for the playoffs for a second straight year, but lost its last two contests to end a once-promising season on a sour note.

Woodbridge (2-8)

A young and inexperienced team struggled on offense last season. After winning its first two games over rebuilding New Brunswick and Perth Amboy, the Barrons dropped eight in a row. At midseason, coach Bill Nyers scrapped his wing-T in favor of the double-wing offense coach Dave DeNapoli runs at Dunellen. Woodbridge was still held to a touchdown or less in five of its last eight games. Nyers, who took over the team last year less than a week before the season started, will run a spread wing-T offense, similar to that out of which Sayreville operates, only not as tight-end oriented. The scheme is analagous to what Nyers employed during his days as Kean University's offensive coordinator, relying heavily upon jet sweeps and traps. Woodbridge remains young with as many as five sophomores, all from a freshman team that went undefeated, possibly starting on either side of the ball. Only a handful of seniors saw significant varsity time last fall including defensive end Ryan Alcott, who led the Barrons with 64 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Two-way lineman Elon Capers is among the league's best players. Tracy Fudge and Quaasim Glover are battling for the quarterback spot (Glover can also play receiver). Zahneer Shuler, who played some quarterback out of necessity last fall, returns to his natural running back position. He is the team's top returning rusher (401 yards). Tyler Smith (WR/CB) and Percy Martin (TE/LB) are top returning seniors. Martin led the team with 130 receiving yards. He also totaled 42 tackles and two sacks. Sophomore Harry Rutkowski (K/P), a star pitcher who projects as a major baseball prospect, will excel on special teams. Keshaun Henry (athlete) and Nate Lanier (RB/DB) are among the newcomers expected to make an impact.

Preseason Top 10

By Marcus Borden and Greg Tufaro

1. Piscataway

2. Sayreville

3. South Brunswick

4. Old Bridge

5. Colonia

6. Monroe

7. St. Joseph

8. Carteret

9. South Plainfield

10. Edison

For an expanded Top 10 version go to MyCentralJersey.com/sports.